M&C Saatchi to Launch in India

New Delhi: M&C Saatchi is poised to make an impact on the Indian advertising industry after sealing an agreement with the Delhi-based company Dhar & Hoon and well-known adman Kamal Oberoi to open a new agency.

The new company has been incorporated as M&C Saatchi Communications Private Ltd and it will be the 11th agency in the Asia Pacific region for the network.

Announcing the new office, Saatchi's executive chairman, Asia Pacific, Tom Dery said teaming up with Oberoi and Dhar & Hoon was a coup.

"They all bring brilliant credentials and experience to the table and along with inputs from Kim Walker, our president and CEO of Asia, it is set to become a highly successful agency for us," he said.

Dery explained that the new agency would maintain M&C Saatchi's philosophy of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit with local partners retaining equity in the business.

Oberoi, a respected figure in the Indian ad industry and former president of JWT in India, will be chairman and CEO of the venture.

Dhar & Hoon was recently named among the country's top creative boutiques, with clients such as Dabur Foods, Sony Wega Theatre, Walkman and professional media among others.

Kim Walker said India was a sophisticated advertising and marketing industry.

"We believe M&C Saatchi's approach of Brutally Simple Thinking will resonate strongly with clients in India as it does elsewhere. It's an exciting time for us and we are thrilled to be making such a significant move into this market," said Walker.